. ORCHARDS. 211 



scription will cost but little, and any coarse carpenter can 

 make it. 



FRUIT LADDERS, 



The farmer can generally have ladders very suitable for 

 fruit orathering made at home, and unless he has facilities for 

 purchasing from the manufacturer or his agents he had better 

 do so. 



They are generally made of white or yellow pine, sound and 

 well seasoned. They are sometimes made of hickory, in 

 which case, in consequence of the stiffness and strength of the 

 timber the side pieces may be comparatively small, and the 

 ladders made very portable. The proper size of the timbers 

 or scantlings used for this purpose varies according to the 

 strength of the material used and the different lengths re- 

 quired. For a 10 or 12 feet ladder, made of pine or poplar, 

 3 or 3Jx2 inches would be about right; 6 or 8 feet ladders 

 less in proportion, and longer ones would require more strength. 

 The proper distance of the rounds from each other should be 

 eighteen inches; they should be made of well seasoned wood, 

 tightly fitted into one inch holes, and no sharp edges should 

 be left on any of the parts, as they would cut or bruise the 

 tender bark of the branches of the trees. Folding ladders 

 are very portable and convenient. 



Fruit ladders may be obtained at the agricultural ware- 

 houses of H. M. Smith k Co., Allison & Addison, and at 

 other establishments in Richmond, Va., and at various other 

 places. Also, good apple peelers, and parers and peelerSy 

 and peach peelers. 



FRUIT PICKERS. 



This useful implement may also be obtained at the agricul- 

 tural establishment of H. M. Smith & Co., Richmond, and 

 doubtless at other places in the South, as well as at the North. 

 The author has no experience in the use of this labor-saving 

 invention, but an eminent nurseryman and orchardist informs 

 him that it is astonishing with what ease and rapidity fruits 

 may be gathered when the operator has the advantage of a 



